british accents

A blog for Anglophiles in America, specifically Boston and New York

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Where's British Accents?

Ok, so some of you have started to notice the weekly e-mail newsletter hasn't been sent out as of late. The reason behind that? I've been really busy with work and haven't really had the time to keep it up to date. The radio show's still going strong though - tune in Sundays from 2-4pm (though not Sunday July 1 - we're taking a one-week break!).

Monday, June 04, 2007

Ra Ra Riot's John Pike found dead

British Accents wishes to extend deep condolences to the friends, family and fans of John Pike - drummer for Ra Ra Riot, who we were lucky enough to have grace the stage at the British Accents 8th Anniversary show last month at the Middle East... from NME:

Ra Ra Riot drummer found dead

John Pike's body found after air and sea search

03.Jun.07 9:07pm

The body of Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike has been found.

Pike, 23, went missing after leaving a party in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The band played a show in Providence, RI on Friday night and afterwards attended the party in Fairhaven, MA. Pike left the party at 3am.

The search began on foot and by air yesterday around 4pm.

Pike's cell phone was later found in shallow water on a beach about half a mile from the house where the party took place, according to local Fire Chief Tim Francis.

This morning the search was extended, with divers searching the waters in the area.

The body was found around 4pm this afternoon (June 3) in seven feet of water in Buzzards Bay, about 200 yards from where his cell phone was discovered.

Friday, April 27, 2007

BA Newsletter 4.27

*The British Accents 8th Anniversary Show is only a week away, on May 4 at the Middle East downstairs featuring THE CRIBS, THE LUXURY and RA RA RIOT. Tickets are selling fast so get them in advance at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Middle East box office to avoid payingadditional fees. Here's a little taste of the opening act, relative unknowns called WHITE RABBITS: http://www.thetripwire.com/reviews/2007/4/26/fort-nightly

*INTERPOL have announced the date and title of their new album - "Our Love To Admire" will be out on July 10 in the US and feature 11 tracks.

*THE PIPETTES have announced a US tour that will surely sell out many dates. They'll be at Great Scott on June 4, Highline Ballroom in NY on June 5, and June 12 at Rickshaw Stop in SF for a "popscene" presented show. Despite the tour, "We Are The Pipettes" doesn't get an official release until August 28.

*A few days after the Pipettes, Great Scott will welcome THE LONG BLONDES as they make their Boston debut. The show is June 8. The band will also play NY twice - Luna Lounge on June 6 and Bowery on June 8, as well as SF's popscene on June 16.

*EDITORS' new album will be titled "An End Has a Start", completing their quest to find the right name for the new album, released on June 25 in the UK. The runner-up, "Smokers Outside Hospital Doors", is the lead single and being released on June 11 digitally and June 18 on CD.

*The best band in America right now, OKKERVIL RIVER, will release the much-anticipated follow-up to "Black Sheep Boy" on August 7 in the US. The album is still untitled. See the Austin-based indie collective in Concord NH on July 14.

*The Virgin Festival in Baltimore, happening at a sticky time to be in Baltimore (early August), with some big names playing this year including SMASHING PUMPKINS, THE POLICE, MODEST MOUSE, TV ON THE RADIO, PETER BJORN & JOHN, CHEAP TRICK, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, AMY WINEHOUSE, INTERPOL, SPOON, WU-TANG CLAN and many more.

*RAZORLIGHT will play a one-off show at Gramercey Theatre in NY on May 1. NME reports that the band will play a full US tour in the fall.

*Rhino Records is currently combing the ends of the Earth for the ultimate JESUS & MARY CHAIN rarities box set, which they hope to release sometime in the fall.

*THE WHITE STRIPES have made their new single "Icky Thump" available on the web, and will hit the road in July for a series of dates that will cris-cross the eastern US, with shows in Boston, Portland, New York and even Wallingford, CT, that bustling metropolis enclave ofStripes fans.

*The Shortlist music prize nominees for this year have been announced, although maybe they should call it the Cavalcade of Overrated as nominees include JOANNA NEWSOM, CAT POWER, TOM WAITS, BEIRUT, GIRL TALK, BONNIE PRINCE BILLY and REGINA SPEKTOR. BA is pulling for the more appropriately rated BAND OF HORSES and HOT CHIP.

*Will it be the greatest hits of rehab? BABYSHAMBLES are reportedly trying to get AMY WINEHOUSE and our other favorite crackhead, SHAUN RYDER, to join Doherty & the boys on the next album.

*Did they see this coming? Due to changes in the UK chart rules, the entire ARCTIC MONKEYS "Favourite Worst Nightmare" has appeared on the UK singles chart as fans downloaded individual tracks in high numbers in the past week. They currently hold the following spots: 5("Brianstorm"), 47, 57, 63, 64, 67, 70, 71, 72, 74, 77, 78, and 114.

*ANDY ROURKE of THE SMITHS will be speaking at Pianos on May 3rd, though we're not exactly sure what the topic of conversation will be, but just be thankful he's not DJing.

*CAMERA OBSCURA will be coming back to the states for at least one show, August 24 at South Street Seaport in NY.

*In other HAPPY MONDAYS news, the band's dancer BEZ will not be joining the band at Coachella this weekend due to visa problems.

*Headed to Coachella? Set times should be up on www.coachella.com very soon if they're not there now.

*Still hoping for a STONE ROSES reunion? Look no further than MANI, who was quoted in NME as saying that he feels he's the one who could get IAN BROWN, JOHN SQUIRE and RENI onstage together again.

*A band that just did the opposite of a reunion (splitting up) - THE COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE, who call it quits before getting a chance to release their 3rd album in the US.

*The tracklist for an upcoming film on the life of JOE STRUMMER will feature tracks spanning the late guitarist's career, from CLASH classics to a heavy helping of solo material. A track from the 101ERS is also on there, with non-Strummer material from MC5, BOB DYLAN, NINASIMONE and others. The CD is out on May 7 in the UK.

Friday, April 13, 2007

BA Newsletter 4/13

*Ok, here's the update on what's been happening with the newsletter. The problem that arose last year and mysteriously vanished has appeared again. Basically what happens is that gmail won't allow the newsletter to be sent for unspecified reasons. There was no newsletter last week, and the week before's was only posted online and not sent out. So while I try to fix the problem, you can read the newsletter on www.britishaccents.blogspot.com and I'll also post it on Myspace - www.myspace.com/britishaccents - so add BA to your friends list if you haven't already.

*The British Accents 8th Anniversary Show is on the way - May 4 at Middle East downstairs with THE CRIBS, THE LUXURY, RA RA RIOT, and WHITE RABBITS. This will be our biggest party yet, so you don't want to miss it - tickets onsale now at the Middle East box office and through Ticketmaster.

*NOEL GALLAGHER told NME that he's written songs for a possible future solo album, but that right now the main focus is working on the follow-up to "Don't Believe The Truth". Most of the album has been written, so I guess all we need now is for them to record it, wait 8 months, and maybe then a new Oasis CD.

*Vote Rowntree! BLUR's longtime drummer Dave Rowntree (the only member of Blur interviewed by British Accents to date) will run as a Labour Party candidate in the district of Marylebone, where Labour traditionally fares poorly. No word on whether a member of Oasis will enter the race for the Tories.

*Quickly becoming a booking agent's enemy #1, THE VIEW have cancelled their US tour once again, though EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS will continue. They're a good band - check 'em out.

*Not to be deprived of "V" bands, THE VEILS have announced some US dates, including June 9 at Great Scott in Boston.

*THE FRATELLIS will play a show at the Irving Plaza aka Fillmore New York, on April 26.

*THE CHANGES have announced a couple of New York shows - they'll be a Knitting Factory on May 11 with THE CINEMATICS and headlining on the 12th at Union Hall.

*Finally - Beggars has stepped forward and will be releasing the LONG BLONDES album sometime this summer, with 4 bonus tracks for those who waited and didn't buy the import.

*AEREOGRAMME have re-scheduled their Boston appearance for April 27 at the Middle East upstairs, with BISHOP ALLEN.

*I can't share with you yet, but the WFNX Best Music Poll concert is coming up and the lineup this year is AWESOME. You won't be disappointed. They'll be announcing most of the lineup on the air on Thursday.

*Upset that Pitchfork gave your favorite band a 5.4 rating last week? Here, cheer yourself up with this nugget from their archives: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21567-it-means-everything

*Want to view the British Accents radio playlist? Identify a song on your podcast or just see what's new and spinning? Here's last Sunday's playlist:http://www.spinitron.com/public/index.php?station=wmfo&month=Apr&year=2007&plid=4416...and the week before:http://www.spinitron.com/public/index.php?station=wmfo&month=Apr&year=2007&plid=4370

Friday, March 30, 2007

BA Newsletter 3/30

*No e-mail newsletter this week - gmail is rejecting my outgoing mails for some reason, so for the time being the newsletter will be blog-only.

*It's that time of year - British Accents is another year old. For our 8th anniversary this year, we're once again presenting a show - May 4 at the Middle East downstairs featuring THE CRIBS, RA RA RIOT and THE LUXURY. Tickets are onsale now through ticketmaster or without the fees at the Middle East box office, which is open most days from mid-day til about 7pm.

*MORRISSEY tickets for the Boston Pavillion show in June are onsale now if you're in the fanclub, plus a few select seats are available for auction online now, and the rest will be put onsale on Monday, April 2.

*ART BRUT's new album will be called "It's A Bit Complicated" (ironic title), and will be released in the US on June 19. You can download a few tracks on www.thetripwire.com and will soon be able to hear them on British Accents Radio as well.

*"Jarvis", the debut solo album from PULP's JARVIS COCKER is released next Tuesday, April 3 in the US. He's looking for appropriate local bands in various US cities to open for him during a short tour. No mention of Boston but New York and LA are on the list.

*The finest Britpop band in Texas (maybe even all of the US), VOXTROT, will release their self-titled debut in the US on May 22. Hear the new song "Kid Gloves" on BA Radio this Sunday.

*ASH's new album will be called "Twilight of the Innocents" and be released on July 2 in the UK, with a US release likely to follow.

*MODEST MOUSE have their first #1 US album as "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" entered the Billboard albums chart at #1 with 128,000+ copies sold. JOHNNY MARR revealed to NME why he joined the band, which can be read in full at www.nme.com, but here's an excerpt - "It started off just as me writing some songs with Isaac and I wasn't looking beyond that. Then it became about me recording these songs as an album with these musicians. Then when the record started to sound as it did, I felt like I wanted to go out and play my part and show my commitment to what I'd done. And I'm still in that frame of mind."

*Heading to Glastonbury this summer? The first group of bands has just been announced - www.nme.com has em all, but highlights include BLOC PARTY, ARCADE FIRE, ARCTIC MONKEYS, MANIC STREET PREACHERS, KAISER CHIEFS, THE STOOGES, THE KOOKS, THE WHO, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN, PETE DOHERTY and many more.

*The NYC listings won't reflect it right away, but Irving Plaza is now being called The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Should I start calling it Fillmore or stick with Irving?

*Did you know that FRANZ FERDINAND's ALEX KAPRANOS wrote a book? And would you believe it's about food? Apparently the slender Scotsman has eaten enough of it (hard to believe) to write a book that's now available in the US called "Sound Bites".

*MARK E. SMITH of THE FALL has teamed up with MOUSE ON MARS for a new project called VON SUDENDED, which will release a debut CD on May 21 in the UK with a 12" single out on May 7.

*FIELDS are doing a US tour in May, including some dates with BLONDE REDHEAD. Shows in Boston, NY and SF are included and listed below.

*UNDERWORLD will do a handful of US dates in early fall, including September 14 at Central Park Summerstage, also Denver and LA.

*It's awhile away, but the new TEGAN & SARA album "The Con" will come out in the states on July 24.

*How do you make BONO even more self important? Call him "Sir Bono"! The world's spokesman for the downtrodden, starving and just hidden under rocks, Bono will be knighted but not take on the title "Sir".

Friday, March 23, 2007

BA Newsletter 3/23

*British Accents radio returns to the airwaves this Sunday with stories from SXSW and new music from ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE, GOLDRUSH, JARVIS COCKER, SILVER SUN and more! Yes, I said Silver Sun, who are back and finally releasing a US album later this year.

*MORRISSEY tour dates are upon us - www.morrissey-solo.com reports that the Mozzer will be in Boston on June 26 at the Pavillion, June 27 at Pines Theater in Northampton, June 30 at Madison Square Garden in NYC, and if you feel like road tripping there's shows in Philly, NJ and elsewhere on the east coast. Sorry, no Providence or Maine this time.

*Moz's former songwriting partner, JOHNNY MARR, will be at Orpheum on April 27 with MODEST MOUSE. Tickets onsale Saturday at noon. The band will also be at United Palace in NY on April 29 & 30 and Lupo's in Providence on May 2.

*While BA was taking spring break at SXSW, THE ARCTIC MONKEYS announced some tour dates. They'll be at Avalon in Boston on May 13, SF's Warfield on May 1, and Hammerstein in NYC on May 15.

*DAMON ALBARN's put something else on his plate that already includes THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE QUEEN, BLUR, GORILLAZ and his solo work - his opera "The Monkey King" is set to premier this summer in Manchester.

*THE ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE will release a full length in the US for the first time ever on April 24 when "No Need To Be Downhearted" hits the stores. "The Human Body EP" came out last fall, and US label Better Looking Records has plans to release a retrospective of ESP's earlier works in the US later this year.

*Another signee of the Better Looking label, GOLDRUSH, will release their next album in the US on April 10, titled "The Heart is the Place".

*SILVERSUN PICKUPS will play an instore at Newbury Comics on March 29, most likely the Newbury Street store but that could change. In addition to the SNOW PATROL dates, they'll also be at The Independent in SF on April 16 and Webster Hall in NY on May 15.

*THE CHANGES return to Boston with a show at TT's on May 15, with Scotland's CINEMATICS headlining the bill.

*MAXIMO PARK will be in Boston again, but not for awhile - mark your calendars for July 11 when the band returns to town. The club has a slew of great shows this spring - coming to the space will be MYSTERY JETS, GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY, OURS and more!

*MANIC STREET PREACHERS release a new album in the UK in May titled "Send Away The Tigers". No word on a US release, and die-hard Manics fans can pick up a 7" only lead single called "Underdogs".

*THE CLIENTELE return to Boston on June 9 at the MFA with BEACH HOUSE in tow, with tickets onsale now.

*SPOON return to Boston for an intimate performance at the Museum of Fine Arts' Remis Auditorium on Saturday, April 28. Right now this show is not sold out because it hasn't been highly publicized, but get tickets soon if you hope to go.

*TV ON THE RADIO will release a limited edition live EP that will only be available through Amoeba Music, where the band performed live awhile back. If you're not near an Amoeba store, you can buy it online at www.amoeba.com

*ASH release their first new material since 2004 on April 16 when the "You Can't Have It All" single comes out in the UK.

*Great Scott proudly announces the return of THE HORRORS to Boston. Actually, the band is most likely banned from the Allston venue, but they've yet to get on the shit list at the Avalon, where they'll open for BRMC on May 29. Other BRMC/Horrors dates include Webster Hall on May 30.

*Couldn't get DECEMBERISTS tickets for the Friday show at Avalon? Or maybe you just need something to do afterward - "The Pill" is hosting a KLAXONS listening party at Great Scott. And btw, the band's show there on April 11 is now sold out.

*THE CRIBS will release a new single on May 14 in the UK called "Man's Needs". The band will also be playing a handful of US dates, including May 4 at the Middle East downstairs, with openers tba.

*Former members of THE BETA BAND are back in action with a new band called THE ALIENS, whose debut "Astronomy For Dogs" comes out in the UK this week.

*Ten years ago Too Pure released "Pioneer Soundtracks" from JACK, a record heralded in its day but largely forgotten now. Despite that, a tenth anniversary edition with a bonus disc is now being released in the UK.

*THE DARKNESS are no more. Based on the placement of this story hopefully you'll take in the relevance of this fact. The members will continue to make music under other names.

Friday, February 23, 2007

BA Newsletter 2/23

*British Accents Radio returns this Sunday from 2-4pm with band new music from THE HOURS, THE BLUETONES, THE VIEW and much more. Tune in around Boston on 91.5 FM and online at www.wmfo.org and iTunes radio - WMFO is under "public".

*MORRISSEY is planning a huge spring US tour slated to start on April 27, although no dates have been announced just yet.

*The two non-famous members of THE JAM are re-uniting under the name of their old band, even though PAUL WELLER will not be involved. As of right now the pair (plus a ringer on lead vocals) are only planning UK dates.

*IDLEWILD's new album "Make Another World" will be released on April 3 in the US on Sanctuary.

*JARVIS COCKER has added another NYC show - he'll be at Webster Hall on April 22 in addition to the 23rd.

*THE PIPETTES have added another NYC date, playing on March 11 at Luna Lounge, where they'll also be on the 12th.

*RUBICKS will be coming over to the US for a handful of shows in March, including South By Southwest plus March 12 at Pianos in NY.

*PLACEBO will play a show in Boston on April 6 at Roxy, so enjoy rocking out to "Infra-Red" with a $7 Budweiser in your hand.

*THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH have called it a career after many albums and a long successful run on the UK charts. The band cited "musical similarities" as one of the reasons behind their split. Perhaps this will pave the way for a HOUSEMARTINS reunion?

*ASH will release their new album in July in the UK, described in NME as being musically poppier but lyrically darker. The lead single from the album will be "You Can't Have It All", which is expected to be released in May or June. In the meantime, download a brand new song called "I Started a Fire" here: myfreedownload.co.uk/ash

*Staying in on Saturday? Got DV-R or Tivo? Then you can catch ARCADE FIRE on Saturday Nigh Live this weekend.